Front covering for a computer housing

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a front cover which, in addition to a front panel, comprises an immediately adjacent function strip which can be equipped optionally with a number of application-specific accessory modules, plug connections, connection sockets, infrared receivers or the like and can have a multi-functional panel, matched to the respective equipment, fitted onto it.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a front cover for a computer housing.

The front of computer housings is usually covered by a front panel madeof plastic. This front panel has, inter alia, recesses for theinstallation locations of disk drives, as well as an immobilizing lock,pushbuttons for switching on and off, indicator lamps, possibly an LCDdisplay element, and much more.

The increasing opportunities for the use of a personal computer,particularly in the area of multimedia applications, have produced aseries of additional components, and there is very often insufficientspace available on the front panel for their connection elements. Inorder to satisfy the respective customer requirements with regard tothese additional components to a sufficient extent, as comprehensive anoffer as possible would essentially have to be provided. On the otherhand, for space reasons, preference would also have to be given tofitting equipment on an individual basis. However, this would theninevitably require the front panel to have a different layout dependingon the equipment of the personal computer, an extravagance which cannotin itself be justified in view of the high tool costs.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,683 A discloses a front cover for a computerhousing; this cover is designed as a front panel in the form of a frame,and individual wall elements can be releasably inserted into this frontpanel in the form of a frame.

Furthermore, EP 687 970 A and EP 647 897 A disclose computer housingshaving attachable front panels, the front having a different layoutdepending on the accessory equipment required, and having acorrespondingly different front panel fitted on it.

Hence, there is a need for a front cover for a computer housing whichmakes it possible to match the front panel to the various equipment ofthe computer using the simplest means possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies the aforenoted needs by providing afront cover for a computer housing. The computer housing includes afront panel having a number of installation locations for externallyaccessible disk drives. The front cover comprises a front panelcomprising an aperture for providing access to at least one disk driveand a longitudinal edge comprising a function strip. The function stripcomprises at least one application-specific accessory module selectedfrom the group consisting of a plug connection, a connection socket, acard reader and an infrared receiver. The function strip matably engagesa multi-functional panel with at least one aperture for providing accessto the at least one application-specific accessory module of thefunction strip.

In an embodiment, the multi-function panel is detachably connected tothe function strip by at least one latching element.

In an embodiment, the multi-functional panel comprises an inner facedirected towards the function strip. The inner face comprises a slot forguiding a sliding panel for at least partially covering the aperturedisposed in the front panel.

In an embodiment, the function strip comprises a smart-card reader andthe multi-functional panel comprises a slot for providing access to thesmart card reader.

In an embodiment, the multi-functional panel comprises a lock.

In an embodiment, the function strip comprises at least one plugconnection, at least one connection socket, at least one smart-cardreader and at least one infrared receiver. Consequently, the functionstrip comprises a plurality of apertures for providing access to theplurality of application-specific accessory modules of the functionstrip.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from reading the following detailed description and appendedclaims, and upon reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, referenceshould now be made to the embodiment illustrated in greater detail andthe accompanying drawing and described below by way of an example of theinvention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the front cover assembly ofthe present invention.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scaleand that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols,phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. Incertain instances, details which are not necessary for an understandingof the present invention or which render other details difficult toperceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, thatthe invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodimentsillustrated herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following text gives a more detailed explanation of an exemplaryembodiment of the invention with the aid of the drawing.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a front panel 1 which can befitted onto the front of a computer housing (e.g. tower design) and has,in its upper region, a rectangular recess 7 for installing disk drives.These installation locations may possibly be protected againstunauthorized access by means of a sliding panel not shown. In addition,pushbuttons,indicator lamps and possibly an LCD display element areincorporated in the front panel and shown generally at 8. One of thelongitudinal edges 9 of the front panel 1 includes a function strip 2integrally formed on it. The function strip 2 can be equipped optionallywith a number of application-specific accessory modules, such assmartcard readers 3, plug connections, connection sockets 4 or the like.Instead of the connection sockets 4 for loud-speakers, headphones or amicrophone, an infrared receiver may also be provided, for example, forthe remote control of the personal computer working in multimedia mode.An immobilizing lock 5, which is normally provided in the front panel 1,may also be accommodated in the function strip 2 or a multi-functionalpanel 6 which may be provided to cover the individual components in thefunction strip 2. The multifunctional panel 6 extends in the manner of acover and whose individual shape is matched to the respectively chosenequipment in the function strip 2. When adding or changing components inthe function strip 2, it is then only necessary to replace thepreviously used multifunctional panel with a new multifunctional paneladapted accordingly. The larger front panel 1 can continue to be usedwithout being changed, however.

Expediently, the multifunctional panel 6 is detachably mounted on thefunction strip by means of latching elements 12. Furthermore, on itsinner face pointing toward the front panel 1, the multifunctional panelmay be provided with a recess or a guide slot 13 for laterally guiding asliding panel which can move in front of the disk drives disposed behindthe aperture 7.

From the above description, it is apparent that the objects of thepresent invention have been achieved. While only certain embodimentshave been set forth, alternative embodiments and various modificationswill be apparent from the above description to those skilled in the art.These and other alternatives are considered equivalents and within thespirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A front cover for a computer housing, thecomputer housing including a front receiving the front cover and havinga number of installation locations for externally accessible diskdrives, the front cover comprising: a front panel comprising an aperturefor providing access to at least one disk drive and having alongitudinal edge; a function strip being integrally formed on thelongitudinal edge and comprising at least one application-specificaccessory module selected from the group consisting of a plugconnection, a connection socket, a smart-card reader and an infraredreceiver; and a multi-functional panel being matably engaged on thefunction strip, said multi-functional panel having at least one aperturefor providing access to the at least one application-specific accessorymodule of the function strip.
 2. The front cover of claim 1 wherein themulti-functional panel is detachably connected to the function strip byat least one latching element.
 3. The front cover of claim 1 wherein themulti-functional panel comprises an inner face directed towards thefunction strip, the inner face comprising a slot for guiding a slidingpanel for at least partially covering the recess disposed in the frontpanel.
 4. The front cover of claim 1 wherein the function stripcomprises a smart-card reader and the multi-functional panel comprises aslot for providing access to the smart-card reader.
 5. The front coverof claim 1 wherein the multi-functional panel comprises a lock.
 6. Afront cover for a computer housing, the computer housing including afront receiving the front cover and having a number of installationlocations for externally accessible disk drives, the front covercomprising: a front panel comprising a longitudinal edge; a functionstrip being provided along the longitudinal edge comprising a pluralityof application-specific accessory modules including a plug connection, aconnection socket, a smart-card reader and an infrared receiver; and amultifunctional panel being matably engaged on the function strip, saidmulti-functional panel having a plurality of apertures for providingaccess to the plurality of application-specific accessory modules of thefunction strip.
 7. The front cover of claim 6 wherein themulti-functional panel is detachably connected to the function strip byat least one latching element.
 8. The front cover of claim 6 wherein themulti-functional panel comprises an inner face directed towards thefunction strip, the inner face comprising a slot for guiding a slidingpanel for covering the recess disposed in the front panel.
 9. The frontcover of claim 6 wherein the multi-functional panel comprises a slot forproviding access to the smart-card reader.
 10. The front cover of claim6 wherein the multi-functional panel comprises a lock.
 11. A front coverfor a computer housing, the computer housing including a front having anumber of installation locations for externally accessible disk drives,the front cover comprising: a front panel comprising a longitudinaledge; a function strip being provided along the longitudinal edge, thefunction strip comprising a plurality of application-specific accessorymodules including a plug connection, a connection socket, a smart-cardreader and an infrared receiver; and a multi-functional panel matablyengaging the function strip and having at least one aperture forproviding access to the plurality of application-specific accessorymodules of the function strip, the multi-functional panel beingdetachably connected to the function strip by at least one latchingelement, the multi-functional panel having an inner face directedtowards the function strip, the inner face having a slot for guiding asliding panel for covering the recess disposed in the front panel, themulti-functional panel having a slot for providing access to thesmart-card reader and a lock.